1 B
SIUSLAW
NEWS
Siuslaw Valley Senior News:
The Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
FAX: (541) 997-7979
pressreleases@thesiuslawnews.com
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY
Local restaurants and more add
entertainment and romance
B Y C HANTELLE M EYER
Siuslaw News
•
2015
Filled with
LOVE
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Valentine’s events
offer variety
11
PHOTO BY DEBBIE MEYER
Mon Ami’s Valentine’s High Tea will have seatings at
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations required.
February is a time for heartfelt events and the celebration
of love. Below, find some of the Valentine concerts, show-
ings, parties and events going on today, Feb. 11, through
Sunday, Feb. 15.
All week
Kiwanis will sell candy every day through Valentine’s
Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sears Showroom, Sixth
Street and Highway 101.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Siuslaw Public Library, 1460 Ninth St., will show “The
Princess Bride” at noon.
The Friends of Poetry meet from 3 to 5 p.m., in the activ-
ity room at Shorewood Retirement Center, 1451 Spruce St.
Thursday, Feb. 12
Smilin’ Dave Craddock plays at the Kenneth B Gallery,
1458 First St., from 7 to 10 p.m. There will be a bar with
desserts and food. Free admission.
Friday, Feb. 13
Coast Radio is holding a radio auction beginning at 9:15
a.m. Tune in to KCST 106.9 FM for more details or go to
www.kcfmradio.com.
Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) will host a
Speakeasy from 4 to 6 p.m. at the FRAA Art Center, 4969
Highway 101. This will be a night of poetry, where guests
are invited to listen to poems written by local poets, or they
are invited to bring and read poetry they have written.
There will be refreshments and admission is free.
Local musician Marty Adams performs at Shorewood
Retirement Residences at 5 p.m.
Florence Area Humane Society will celebrate February
holidays on Friday, Feb. 13, at 5:30 p.m., with a dinner, raf-
fle and dancing at the Ocean Dunes Golf Links Clubhouse,
3345 Munsel Lake Rd. Tickets are $10.
Seacoast Entertainment features Mexican brass band
Metales M5 at 7 p.m. at Florence Events Center (FEC), 715
Quince St. Tickets are available at www.eventcenter.org.
Share Your Heart, put on by Children’s Repertory of
Oregon Workshops (CROW) at the FEC at 7 p.m., will
show performances by local vocalists and CROW students.
There also will be an auction, hors d’oeurves and wine
(adults only). Single tickets are $39 for adults and $25 for
youth 12 and under. A full table of eight also can be pur-
chased for $285. Reservations are requested.
Saturday, Feb. 14
Coast Radio is holding a radio auction, beginning at 9:05
a.m. Tune in to KCST 106.9 FM for more details or go to
www.kcfmradio.com.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium allows visitors ages 8 and
up to kiss seals and sea lions for the special price of $30
plus admission. Kisses must be booked in advance by call-
ing 541-867-3474, extension 5401, between 10 a.m.
and 5 p.m.
Mon Ami Gourmet Deli and Antiques will hold its 17th
Annual Valentine’s Day High Tea. Reservations are
required for the two seatings, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets
are $18.95 per person.
Siuslaw Public Library will host Literary Trivia at noon.
The Second Saturday Gallery Tour, from 3 to 5 p.m.,
offers refreshments at Backstreet Gallery, Florence Events
Center, FRAA Art Center, Kenneth B Gallery, Old Town
Coffee and Gallery, Pacific Frameworks, River Gallery, the
Gallery Above the Silver Lining Boutique and the
Siuslaw Public Library. The gallery tour is free to the pub-
lic.
Backstreet Gallery Heart exhibition highlights more
than 20 artists who poured their hearts into their media.
There will be a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at 1421
Bay St. The Just for Fun quartet will provide accompani-
ment.
Valentine’s Day Dinner and Swing Dance, at the FEC,
showcases Johnny Martin. “The Red and White Ballroom”
runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Premium seating is $55 per person
and general admission is $49.
Legends in Concert’s Ray Anthony will perform as
Ritchie Valens at 7 p.m. at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel.
Tickets range from $15 to $20.
Jerry’s Place, 88274 Rhododendron Drive, will feature
the band Two Fathoms Deep at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 15
The Oregon Coast Aquarium allows visitors ages 8 and
up to kiss seals and sea lions for the special price of $30
plus admission. Kisses must be booked in advance by
calling 541-867-3474, extension 5401, between 10 a.m.
and 5 p.m.
Little Log Church celebrates renewal of love
Valentine’s vow renewal ceremony commemorates 20 years in Yachats
B Y J ACK D AVIS
Siuslaw News
Roses wilt and chocolates
melt but a ceremony of renewal
and
commitment
create
memories that last a life-
time.
For the 20th year, independ-
ent minister Mary Crook will
preside over the annual cere-
mony of renewal and commit-
ment on Valentine’s Day,
Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Little
Log Church, 328 W. Third St.,
Yachats.
Two ceremonies will be held
this year, one at noon and the
second at 5:30 p.m. Seating is
limited to 25 couples for each
service.
Violinist Ruth Mock will
provide music for the noon cer-
emony and Celtic harpist Khlo
Brateng will be featured at the
5:30 p.m. ceremony.
Crook got the idea for the
renewal ceremony shortly after
becoming a licensed minister in
1995. The first ceremony of
renewal and commitment was
held on Valentine’s Day in
1996. Nine couples attended.
Last year Crook had to turn
some couples away because
there was no more room in the
small church.
“This is the first year that we
PHOTOS BY JACK DAVIS/ SIUSLAW NEWS
Independent minister Mary Crook has held vow renewal
ceremonies in The Little Log Church since 1996.
have had two services,” Crook
said. “Since we were full last
year and this is our 20th year, I
thought it would be a nice idea
to hold two ceremonies, espe-
cially with Valentine’s Day
falling on a Saturday.”
The nondenominational cere-
mony is open to married cou-
ples and unmarried couples in
committed relationships. The
theme of this year’s event is
“Life is Precious.”
Because space is limited,
reservations are required. Call
541-547-4547 to reserve.
“What is special to me every
year is that space in the sanctu-
ary is filled with loving couples
who are there because they
want to make a commitment on
this very special day,” Crook
said. “There is an energy that is
present in that space that is pal-
pable.
“I get such a boost from it
personally. It’s just a very good
feeling. People are so gracious
and filled with appreciation
afterward. I give each couple a
certificate as a memento of the
occasion.”
There is no charge, but a
donation of $10 per couple to
the Little Log Church is sug-
gested.
“All donations go directly
back to the Little Log Church,”
Crook said. “My compensation
is to be filled with love.”
After becoming a minister in
1995, Crook opened up a wed-
ding business called Weddings
by the Sea.
In the past 20 years, she has
performed
more
than 1,400 marriages, many in
the Little Log Church.
One stands out in her memo-
ry.
“This couple drove up from
Ashland to be married here in
the church. It was just the
couple, the two witnesses and
myself. They told me that
one of their favorite pieces of
music was ‘Moon River’ from
the movie ‘Breakfast at
Tiffany’s.’ I recorded it on an
old cassette tape from the
original vinyl record I had at
home.
“After the ceremony, I
punched the button and they
waltzed all around the sanctu-
ary to the music. What made
this so special is that the
groom was 79 and the bride
was 90. They were such a love-
ly couple. They came back for a
couple of years to renew their
vows.”